Gelsemium rankinii
Addisonia 13: 37, plate 435. 1928.
Leaves: petiole 2.5–4.3 mm, glabrous or moderately pubescent, trichomes spreading; blade narrowly lanceolate, elliptic, or ovate, 2–7.1 × 0.8–2.9 cm, base rounded to cuneate, apex obtuse, acute, or acuminate, abaxial surface glabrous except for small patch of spreading trichomes basally, adaxial surface glabrous or scattered-pubescent along midvein. Pedicels ebracteolate on distal 1/2. Inflorescences cymes, (2- or) 3–5-flowered. Flowers usually not fragrant; sepals lanceolate to ovate, 3.3–3.5 × 0.9–1.5 mm, apex acuminate, surfaces glabrous; pin flowers: tube 11–15 mm, lobes ovate to suborbiculate, 9–12 × 8–11 mm, surfaces glabrous; filaments 7–8 mm; anthers 4–4.1 mm; styles 19–24 mm; thrum flowers: tube 16–18 mm, lobes ovate to suborbiculate, 11–12 × 8–11 mm, surfaces glabrous; filaments 19–21 mm; anthers 4.4–4.9 mm; styles 6–8.4 mm. Capsules 10–15 × 6–8 mm, beak 2.4–4.2 mm. Seeds not winged, 3.3–4.5 × 1.4–2.5 mm. 2n = 16.
Phenology: Flowering Mar–May (also sporadically in fall); fruiting Sep–Oct.
Habitat: Swamp forests, primarily Taxodium-Nyssa.
Elevation: 0–300 m.
Distribution
Ala., Fla., Ga., La., Miss., N.C., S.C.
Discussion
Selected References
None.